BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) and EUPD (Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder) refer to the same mental health condition—the difference lies mainly in terminology used by different diagnostic systems.
• BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) is the name used in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association).
• EUPD (Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder) is the name used in the ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, published by the World Health Organisation).

Both describe the same cluster of symptoms, including:
• Intense and rapidly changing emotions
• Fear of abandonment
• Unstable relationships
• Impulsive or self-destructive behaviours
• Chronic feelings of emptiness
• Possible self-harm or suicidal thoughts

The term “emotionally unstable personality disorder” (EUPD) was intended to emphasise the emotional instability that characterises the condition. Meanwhile, “borderline personality disorder” (BPD) comes from an older idea that the condition was “on the borderline” between neurosis and psychosis.

 

So, whether someone is diagnosed with BPD or EUPD, they’re being diagnosed with the same condition—it’s just that the UK and Europe tend to use EUPD, while the US and many other countries use BPD.

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Why some prefer EUPD
• More descriptive: It highlights the core difficulty — emotional instability — rather than a vague, historical term like “borderline.”
• Less stigma (for some): “Emotionally unstable” feels more medical and less like a personality flaw.
• More aligned with modern psychiatry: Fits better with the ICD framework, which is widely used in Europe and the UK.

Why some prefer BPD
• Wider recognition: “BPD” is the most common term globally, especially in research, online communities, and self-help resources.
• Community identity: Many people with lived experience identify with the term BPD and have built support networks around it.
• Less negative wording: Some feel “unstable” sounds judgmental or insulting, whereas “borderline” feels less harsh.

Why both can be controversial
• Stigma: Both terms have been criticised as labelling people as “difficult” rather than describing their suffering.
• Not fully accurate: The symptoms go beyond just emotions — they also include relationships, identity, and behaviour — so neither name captures the whole picture.
• Movement toward change: Some experts suggest shifting toward terms like Complex Emotional Needs or Emotion Regulation Disorder, which are seen as more compassionate and accurate.

In short: BPD and EUPD are the same condition, but people’s preference for the name often depends on whether they want something more widely recognised (BPD) or more descriptive and clinically modern (EUPD).